Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

duty towards our common institutions . Bat to resume . An annual subscription from each member of only five shillings to each charity , means a certain income to each of £ 15 , 000 . And what might not be done with this amount . The present ordinary expenditure of the Boys '

School is in round figures £ 7 , 000 , office expenses £ 1 , 000 , extraordinary expenses , say on an average , and allowing for increasing accommodation , £ 1 , 500 . There remain £ 5 , 500 . Of this £ 3 , 500 might be invested , and bring grist to the mill in the shape of interest , while the other £ 2 , 000

would , even at £ 50 per head , allow an addition to be made to the school of forty boys . Let our English brethren , between now and the approaching Festival of the Boys '

School , ponder on this simple fact , an annual subscription of five shillings per English Freemason means £ 15 , 000 per annum . The wealthy brother can still give , as he has given in past years , according to his wealth .

We make no apology for having dwelt so long on the claims of this Institution on Freemasonry ; they are too self-evident to need one . We may add , in conclusion , that

in Bro . Binckes the Boys' School has an advocate who possesses untiring zeal and energy ; no amount of personal inconvenience ever steps between him and the fulfilment of his arduous duties . But Bro . Binckes is not even like

Sir Boyle Roche ' s famous bird . He cannot be in two places at once , much less is he ubiquitous . Yet all that can be done lie does , to promote the success of the institution with which he is associated . Nor , we feel convinced , will the Stewards elected for the coming Festival be wanting in

energy . On the contrary , a feeling of honourable rivalry will no doubt excite in them a desire to outdo the efforts of their predecessors , successful as have been those efforts . What is needed is not more energy on the part of the Secretary and the Stewards , but that the bulk of the

Fraternity should be more alive to its obligations . Is it too much to hope that , in these halcyon days of English Freemasonry , when our Order is becoming daily more and more numerous , and rising higher and higher in public

estimation , the claims of our charities to increased support will be more fully recognised ? We have every faith in the answer that will be given , if only the Craft generally will be more mindful of its duties .

The Late Rev. George Oliver, D.D.

THE LATE REV . GEORGE OLIVER , D . D .

WE feel that we owe no apology to our readers for bringing under their notice the eminent services which the late Dr . Oliver rendered to Masonry , and , if a comparison be possible under the circumstances , his still more eminent services in connection with Masonic

literature . Few among us may hope to equal him even in his simple character of a just and upright Mason , while to approach him in knowledge of Masonic lore , or in his many able and eloquent expositions of the many beauties that adorn our symbolism—this , we trow , must be looked upon

as well nigh impossible . Whatever the present or future ages may bring forth in the way of Masonic litterateurs , it is certain that most of them will owe the greater part of their knowledge , and , perhaps , all their enthusiasm to the influence of his fervent teachings . Many have risen , and

will yet rise , to the same rank as he did . Let us hope that some may write , if not as ably and voluminously , at all events with the same admirable purpose in view . But the majority of Masons present and to come can only strive to imitate his virtues and draw inspiration from his works .

That what we have said thus far is no mere figure of speech , let the following sketch of his honourable career bear witness . The facts have been culled from the Memoir , by the publisher , Bro . R . Spencer , prefixed to the new edition of Dr . Oliver ' s " Origin of the Royal Arch Order of

Masonry , Historically Considered , " which appeared within a very few weeks prior to his death in 1867 . The late Dr . George Oliver , descended of an ancient Scottish family of that name , was the eldest son of the Rev . Samuel Oliver , Rector of Lambley , Notts , and was

born 5 th November 1782 . After attaining his majority , in 1803 , he was appointed Second Master in Caistor Grammar School . In 1809 , he became Head Master of Grimsby Grammar School . In 1813 , he was ordained deacon , and

took priest's orders the year following , when he was presented by Bishop Tomline to the living of Clee . In 1831 , Bishop Kaye presented him to the living of Scopwick , and in 1834 , the Dean of Windsor bestowed on him the Rectory

The Late Rev. George Oliver, D.D.

of Wolverhampton , with a prebend ' s stall in the Collegiate Church in that town . In 1836 , he graduated as D . D . In 1844 , shortly after the Lincoln " Oliver Offering "—of which hereafter—he was presented to the Rectory of South

Hykeham . At the age of seventy-two his voice began to fail him , and henceforth he lived in dignified retirement at Eastgate , Lincoln . He died , 3 rd March 1867 , full of years and honours , respected of allmen , aud beloved and esteemed by his friends and brethren .

As to his Masonic career , Dr . Oliver was initiated va . 1801 , in St . Peter ' s Lodge , Peterborough , by special dispensation from Grand Lodge , being passed and raised the year following . In 1803 he was congratulated as Mark Mason . Soon after his settlement at Grimsby , in 1809 , ho procured

a warrant for the establishment of a Lodge—the Apolloof which he was the first W . M ., a position ho held for fourteen years . In 1812 , the honour was accorded him of laying the first stone of the Masonic Hall at Grimsby , a town where , previous to his residence , Masonry could

hardly boast a single representative . In 1813 , he was exalted a R . A . Mason in tho Chapter attached to the Rodney Lodge , Kingston-on-Hull . In 1814—according to the learned doctor ' s own statement , in his speech acknowledging the Lincoln offering , in 18 L 3—he served the office of

Prov . Grand Steward . In 1815 , he attained the Rose 83 , the 18 th degree . In 181 G , he was appointed Prov . Grand Chaplain by Prov . G . M . White . In 1833 , Prov . G . M . D'Eyncourt selected him as his D . P . G . M . for Lincolnshire , and this office he held for nine years . In 1838 , he became

a joining member of the Witham Lodgo , Lincoln , from the Apollo Lodge , Grimsby . In April 1841 , he assisted in laying the foundation stone of the New Masonic Hall , Saltergate , Lincoln , and preached the sermon in St . Peter ' s Church , while in June of next year , he assisted at the

dedication , and delivered an oration appropriate to the ceremony . " On this occasion were present Dr . Oliver ' s father , his son , and his son ' s sons—four generations of Masons in one family . " Two years later he was chosen an honorary member of the Witham Lodge , and continued so

till his death . In 1845 , he became S . G . I . G . 33 rd degree ; in 1846 , D . G . M . of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , by diploma , aud in the same year , by patent , M . Ill . Lieut . G . Commander of the Supreme Council H . E ., for England and Wales . In 1851 , he rose by succession to be M . P . Sov .

G . Commander of the said Supreme Council . At his death , a dispensation was at once granted by Bro . Smyth , D . Prov . G . M ., for his interment with Masonic honours . Accordingly about ninety brethren followed the body to its i last resting-place in St . Within's Cemetery . The order o £ ' procession being as follows : —

Two Tylers . Visiting Brethren . Witham Lodge . Band . Brethren out of Office .

Tho Deacons . The Secretary with Roll . The Treasurer . The Senior and Junior Wardens .

The Prov . Grand Officers . Tho Holy Writings . The Grand Pursuivant . Steward with wand . The Worshipful Master . Steward with wand . The Officiating Clergyman .

THE BODIT . Mourners . Two Stewards . Tyler . As an author , Dr . Oliver , very early in his Masonic career ,

set himself seriously and earnestly to the study of the science , and but a very few years elapsed ere his researches bore fruit . In 1820 , he published his " Antiquities of Freemasonry . " This was followed by " The Star iu the East . " In 1826 , appeared " Signs and Symbols , " and

then his " History of Initiation . " In 1829 , he edited a new edition of Preston ' s " Illustrations o £ Masoury , " and subsequently there appeared at divers times a series of most valuable treatises and lectures , of which we enumerate the following : " Historical Landmarks and other

Evidences of Freemasonry Explained , " in 2 vols ; an edition in 5 volumes of the " Golden Remains of the Early Masonic Writers ; " one of " Hutchinson ' s ' Spirit of Masonry ; ' " and one also of " Dr . Ashe ' s ' Masonic Manual ;'" "

History of Freemasonry from 1829 to 1841 ; " "A Mirror for the Johanuito Masons ; " " The Book of the Lodge , or Officer ' s Manual ; " " The Institutes of Masonic Jurisprudence j" "The Theocratic Philosophy of Freemasonry ; " "A